"I'll appoint Li Ting, my son and heir, Regent to rule in my place."
"Li Ting has left the Palace," broke in a eunuch, who had joined the group. He was too agitated to think of Court ceremony. "He has gone with his friend the eunuch Li Fu-kuo to try to get together an army of loyal troops to combat the forces of An Lu-shan."
Ming Huang surveyed the group about him proudly. "An Lu-shan is no son of mine," he said bravely. "My son, Li Ting, will save the Empire. You are right, Kao, China will live."
Yang Kuei-fei bowed her head. "As long as there are stars in heaven," she said fervently.
"And now," said the Emperor, "we must devise a plan. But first for an hour I wish to be alone, to think and rest."
The others withdrew. Yang Kuei-fei remained.
For the first time in his life Ming Huang was afraid, not because of the rebellion of An Lu-shan. That could be put down. China had always been greater than her betrayers. But he was afraid he might lose Yang Kuei-fei. She sat near him. He did not wish her to speak. He dreaded confession from her lips. An Lu-shan, too, had loved her. He was young, ambitious. Perhaps she had been blinded by his brilliance. Ming Huang felt as though only a web as thin as gossamer protected his happiness. A word, and the web would be broken.
Finally he said wearily, "We have been happy together."
"Very happy."
